Hahaha, you all have a funny mindset. Yes, Chinese scooters are cheap and they are vulnerable as well, but they can be still cheap to have if you know what you are doing. I have 5 scooters 1 trike from icebear, 2 Taotao Cruisers (Honda Ruckus moded clone) and 2 others. I change the oil myself and try to keep an eye on my bikes and I can say I have not spent more than 150 for them in a year. Especially my Taotao cruisers, they are the best looking ones (after my trike) and yet they don't require much, they are easy to assemble and for some reason, people seem to like them (I've had many offers for them). So, yes, Chinese bikes are cheap but they can be either cheap or expensive to maintain depending on the care that you give them and if you do it yourself or depend on a mechanic. I personally consider them toys because they are easy to mess with and are really cheap, so I like them despite having an SUV and a sport car which I use for over 1 hours driving trips.
Excellent and detailed review. Thank you as it helped me make my decision to hold off purchasing for now as I do not have the mechanical knowledge you spoke of. You saved me a great deal of money!
Scooters are not bad if you have some mechanical skills you can do a lot your selfe they are not that hard to fix .. just bought a buddy 150 cc theft recovery the idiots put a new key (used) ingnition and spayed it black owner got it back 7 months later running but it was not in the best of shape so he just wanted to get rid of it $300 if I can clean it up remove paint I can get $500 easy cause it runs or just replace plastics ( eBay ) $200 give or take make it look almost new can get $1000 cause it’s a buddy scooter / vespas rival ..
Fantastic review really appreciate you posting about all the things you have encountered with this scooter. I also have a cheap 150 Chinese scooter that I bought locally. They have similar issues with bad rubber components. But once you replace it with quality rubber hosing from any local parts shop you should not have to replace it again.
Pretty comprehensive review. I think the Tao Tao ATM 150 hasnt changed much since then. The price has increased slightly since the tariffs on chinese scooters. The list is a good starting point for initial upgrades.
Thank you so much for this video. I have had mine just like it for a month, and need these pointers on it. My patience is very thin with mechanical work. I really appreciate and look forward to the other videos. Thanks again
Note to others who have not yet ourchased :::: IF U R short on patience when doing mechanical work,,,,DO NOT BUY ....get a used Honda from your father's best friend....
Very helpful review. Just bought me the 2016 Taotao Quantum Tour 150. As of now it's two days old and put 80 miles on it. This one replaced my 2001 Honda Elite 80 which only did 45MPH and didn't find it rode very well. On my new one I just love it so far. Great ride and steering Nice two stage paint, very shiny. I used Duragloss 105 paint sealant and sealed every single part of the bike. Coated all plastics, seat and hoses Top speed is around 55MPH which I just tired once until break in. LED lights front and back except for headlight. Love the sport look. We shall see. Thanks for taking time for the review.
Hey nice video, well done. I have actually just bought the same bike and it will be coming in a few days. I have read a lot on the forums that you should change out the carb on Chinese scooters but i was wondering if this only applies to the 50cc ones or this bike as well? By the way have been able to get a lot of info from scootdawgs, great site and thank you to all of the contributors out there.
Why would u change the carb. U only want to change it if I had been sitting for like years 5 or more that’s when u change it .. I have 2012 rowdy 1500cc bough it ran ok all original even tires just replaced rear tire ..2020 Lota miles .. thought could run better got a aftermarket carb . runs better faster the rowdy is a heavy scooter plan on getting another .. don’t need to 100mph down the street 56 is fast enough ..
55 mph is the top speed of the yamaha vino 125. It retails for around $2500 otd. I've had one for 11 years and it has been super reliable (ie nothing broke in 10 yrs). It starts when u hit the starter without complaints. No problem with any rubber parts. The tires and front disk brakes did wear out at 10,000 miles and were replaced. The next maintenance item according to the Owner's manual is the belt drive. Apparently all of the scooters require replacing the belt at 12k miles. Good review of the TaoTao. Enjoy!
Well done video sir, bloody well done. I would like to add something for any viewer of this review. First let me say that I came into Chino scoots about five years ago and knew nothing about them and now I am rebuilding custom ones from the ground up and I had no previous mechanic knowlege, just common sense. This scooter, and all Chinese scooters, are pretty much the same. They may have different company and/or model names but the parts are almost always the same. These scooters do require a lot of attention but it's not as bad as it seems. The engines are extremely easy to learn to fix. Your biggest problem will be troubleshooting problems as they arise. Luckily there is literally thousands of videos and forums to rely on. All the parts are cheap as in $10-$80, and the expensive parts are stuff like tires and the plastics if you drop it. You can buy an entire new engine for $350 and it only takes about 4 to 5 hours to swap it out. Check it out regularly, don't let it sit for periods of time neglected, weatherize it properly if you live in colder climates, and do the upgrades he mentioned in the video and you will have no regrets in buying this. I believe he's overestimating the cost quite a bit. You can buy a decent used one for about $600, makes some upgrades and have yourself a nice scoot. Go buy one, join a scooter club, and hang with the rest of us scoot trash! Cheers mates!
Extremely informative video! Very well done! I have been researching Chinese scooters the past week and your video is by far the most helpful. I read about the same issues you had to repair, but seeing the actual parts on the video was much more helpful. I like your thorough and neat upgrades and expense list. Where the upgrade parts available here in the USA? Thanks for posting.
Not as bad as u think they are good scooters easy to maintain..some people with lack of ingenuity or mechanical skills make the simplest things look so hard well they are not ..
Parts for this scooter are dirt cheap. There are literally thousands of RU-vid vids that will walk you thru absolutely any repair. But yes, if you are afraid to get your nails dirty or cannot tell the difference between a impact and a screwdriver, then you’re probably better off taking the bus.
Hi, I loved your non biased approach to your review. If it makes any difference to you I'm from Thunder Bay Ontario Canada 🍁 & I ride a 2000 Kawasaki ZX12R which has been a very good bike to me. My wife rides to & has a 2001 GSXR-750 I got for her birthday. I respect all riders & believe it's not what you ride, it's THAT you ride. I wish that more people would be as thorough with their reviews as you. I' ve been thinking of getting 2 scooters so my wife & I have something different to ride. Good excuse to go grocery shopping? LOL Thanks for the great video & review Henning & Liz
I have a Tao Tao Paladin 150. It is essentially the same bike that you have with different styling. I currently have 11,260 Km on it and have had it for two years. It is extremely reliable. I only had to have the variator replaced about a month ago due to it accelerating clunky. I keep it outside also (not garaged). I will post a video soon to show you how to make it look and perform like scooters that cost 4 times as much for less than fifty dollars.
THANKS SO MUCH for being honest about the top speed There is not a single video on RU-vid that shows a 150CC's real speed. There's only videos of people riding their 150CC around and they don't show the speed or revealed the max top speed... Other videos people always claim that a 150CC will reach 65 & 70, which is a lie
Excellent review. Comprehensive. They should all be done like this! Extremely helpful. As to the bike, it sounds more like an expensive hobby than good transportation, and frankly I would only give it 2 stars at most. But thanks for the wonderful review !!!
Great in depth review, I jus bout my few day ago and this review prepares me very good, thanks man, I appreciate the time you took tor explaining very good.
I read on forums last night that the only scooters you should buy should be either Taiwanese or Japanese, as scooters or motorbikes in general, are extremely high quality and durable. As it would happen, my first and (so far) only scooter, is a 2006 Taiwanese Golden Bee 50cc Key West Scooter, and the motorcycle I purchased a year or two ago, is a 1976 Honda CB125S, so as luck would have it, I've gotten a vehicle from both of those recommended countries. I had been offered a Tao Tao 150cc scooter recently, and have been very indecisive about purchasing it, as I have heard that the Tao Tao Chinese scooters are true crap. Watching your, and many other reviews, I can't help but to agree that they are crap. High maintenance is an understatement. You basically have to rebuild the bike within the first 3 months of owning it. Hardly worth the low price you pay for it if you'll be spending constant time and money to upkeep it. May as well buy a more expensive, yet much more durable and reliable bike from a much more reputable company, like Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha. Hell, even Kymco is a Taiwanese company, and they make such good motors that larger brand companies like Vespa and Yamaha, buy from them. I definitely thank you for this review, though. You've made my mind up for me as far as buying a Tao Tao, which I won't. Instead, I'll just save my money for now...though, I will want to buy a bigger scooter eventually. The constant tailgating from riding the 50cc is becoming obnoxious and more dangerous, since all the people are coming out from the quarantine, they're all flooring it everywhere, and them going 15 over the speed limit is terrifying when I can't even reach the speed limit. Secondly, the Honda motorcycle, I've found, isn't actually all that practical. Sure you can wear a backpack, or put a trunk on the bike, but you still can't carry as much as you would on a scooter, which is preferable, and far more practical, as well as quieter, and much more fun to ride. So, yeah, I'll probably be selling that. A thumb's up for the review, anyways.
Did you get Ryan Reynolds to voice this? seriously though, you do sound a bit like him!Great review, I'm thinking of getting one of these as the traffic to work is getting beyond a joke where I live, not to mention exorbitant parking fees for cars!Something like this would be perfect to zip about on, and cheaply. Cheers for the upload.
Thank you for the in depth ..real world review.: including fuel economy, actual performance speed and rider weight. I have a Honda 2014 Grom MSX125... It takes similar size 12" tires. I highly recommend Michelin Power Pure SC which are commonly available by mail order in the sizes 120/70-12 130/70-12 140/70-12 . The Grom is a similar power...similar speed bike... My fuel economy is 75 to 100 mpg with 220 pound rider. I have had no breakdowns or service failures and currently have 2700 miles on a 2014 Grom which I purchased new in February 2015 . The Honda does cost more than a Chinese Scooter and shifting gears does wear/scuff the top/toe of rider's shoe or boot.
I've got motorcycles and know a lot about them, and am looking to get a scooter for running around town, i know nothing about scooters as far as brands and all that. I really appreciate what you did here, you've made my decision very easy, thank you, I greatly appreciate going through what the totals of this bike costs between maintenance and everything!
@@ShipWreck54 That's nothing. I've got a 2006 TGB Keywest Scooter, and am only paying $72 a year ($6/month) for insurance. I've also got a 1976 Honda CB 125S and that is also $72 a year ($6/month). My 1987 Ford Country Squire (woody) station wagon costs me $502 a year, which actually kind of annoys me, because it's actually about $5 more expensive per month, than my 1986 Chevy Custom Deluxe, and I asked why it was more expensive, and they said it was because there wasn't any airbags in the car, and I was like, "Well, obviously, there aren't any airbags in the truck, either." Bottom line, insurance is a scam either way.
Very good video review. I just got one of these and yes , I know they may need some attention. I think it will be my summer toy run to work once in a while. Do you have a picture of just that list at 17:58 just seems like a good comprehensible look at the basic upgrades. I dont want to mod it all out , just get a few of the quick failing parts off the scooter.
Awesome , thanks so much. I am still cruising my around and loving every minute of it Its time to start looking into the few new parts , however all is still working really well and I have not changed a thing yet. Only changed oil and had a few vacuum line leaks . So anyone with these , replace your vacuum lines , so far its the first to fail
Great review!!!! I was curious about these and that satisfied my curiosity. I've been riding for 40 years, from mopeds as a kid to my current motorcycle. I like the idea of this scooter, transport using minimal resources, but I cant abide the low power output. I feel vulnerable in traffic on something like this, as opposed to my motorcycle which has over 100hp. If it was used in a very low traffic area that might be fun. Do they make a 250?
5/2022 Well done video I own a 2013 Wolf V150 since new. I use my scooter in Florida more than a car. I have considered to sell the car all together and renting one when needed. Having a scooter to me is much more practical.
I have this scooter and have had problems from day one. The thing leaves a trail of parts in its wake. Every time I hit a bump, I can hear nuts and bolts falling onto the ground. Also, the cheap plastic body panels are always rattling because all the flimsy body panel clips break too easily. I have had to replace the carburetor, the battery, and a plethora of body panels and lights. I would not recommend Taotao to anyone.
Im looking into getting a powermax 150 or Quantum how bad is the quality on them I'm a bit scared now ..only had 1 moped before was a Zuma or Ruca or something in 2004..think it was maroon was 15 years ago
THank you , thank you! Very clear observations- Just GOt a Bandit frm 2005 and its basically the same scooter. Have to go thru all the systems as it was left to rot behind someone house. I'm a little intimidated by what could be wrong....
They make a thing called HELI-COIL It is used for stripped out bolts. I use a 1/4 inch drive socket for the small bolts and 3/8 drive for the heaver. I HAND SCREW in the bolts first. Never use an air impact. I give you KUDOS for a great walk around. We live in N.C. and insurance is $90.00 a year for the first bike and $50.00 for the second and $35.00 for the third. You might want to remove the (EGR) or PAIR system s that is for California residents..
Nice thorough review. I'm curious how you got that charger to run your Garmin in GPS/power mode vs data/charging mode, since Garmins are funny that way. When you hook them up to a 12v power cord in your car they work the way they're supposed to. When you hook them up to your laptop via a USB cable they go into data transfer/charging mode. I'd like to know what model Opteka and what kind of cable you're using.
not to pick on you dude but that clip you said was for grocery bags i have a hook that resembles the coat hanger hook in a car and was told by the dealer those are to hang our helmets on lol but i found grocery bags really wouldnt stay on that hook and the hard way with a couple loaves of bread..
I was told by dealer to use only premium gas which is sold by a station here in St. Lucie Florida that has a 3 separate hoses on their pumps. He told me that the valves needed 93 octane and if I bought gas from a 1 hose pump the first half gallon would probably be regular. I only put about 1 gallon in at a time so no big deal.
Thanx...Excellent video...I'm seriously thinking about going and PICKING up my new SSR 150 -put together- this month INSTEAD of delivery (costs me $2.04 more / Or $50.00 in gas) )..they DID mention/ suggest the new oil change...perhaps SYNTHETIC? Good Video.
Bought a 49cc off someone in town and slowly trying to get around to riding it .. swear it likes to take off if not careful and.slowly learning in general on it
Thanks for the tips on fixing the stripped CVT bolt hole. As far as protectant for the rubber parts, what are you going to use? After I saw the cracking rubber, I did some research I went with Johnsen's silicone lubricant, which "lubricates and prolongs the life of weatherstripping on hoods, trunk lids, doors and windows". Also heard that food grade silicone spray can be used.
I was goin to get one but after I saw this video I changed my mind, cause of all the work you have to do. To many bod cons...... Good video tho thanks.
SpongeRod Armstead I get 55 mpg and pay $7.60 per month for insurance. Any vehicle you own is gonna need maintained. Bikes require a little more maintenance. But parts are extremely cheap for something like this scooter. You can replace the entire engine for $300. Try that with any other vehicle, even other motorcycles, and you are looking at 10-20 times the cost. Even the oil change is 1/10th the expense vs a car. Convenience is expensive!
That's interesting to hear your total investment. For that same $3000 you could have easily picked up something stronger and better built from Kymco. Their 160cc models retail about $2700. The 125cc Agility makes the same hp as most GY6's (8-10 hp) for $2000. Good to know ahead of time how the overall cost of these Chinese scoots can skyrocket.
Or just quit being a masochist and get a used motorcycle. Seriously, you can get a used Ninja 250 for about $1600 in reasonable mechanical condition, just some scuff marks from a beginner dropping it a time or two, and expect no replacement parts or maintenance needed for a long time besides the obvious normal things like oil, brakes, tires, chain after thousands of miles. Insurance may be a bit higher and fuel economy a bit lower, but without the frustrations, with the ability to go at highway speeds, and with almost the same resale value as what you paid for it if you keep it in reasonable condition... while a Chinese scooter is worth almost nothing once it has a few years or small # of thousands of miles, and rightly so when you consider it will cost as much to refurb as a new one costs.
Stinky Cheese Yeah, you pretty much CAN'T go wrong with a 250cc bike of any sort... best possible balance between power and fuel economy. The only real advantage a scooter has is CVT and built -in storage, and the fact that some people can't throw a leg over a motorcycle.
Stinky Cheese Some people want scooters simply for the automatic transmission. Until the Honda CTX with autotrans hits the used market, most of these people want a scooter. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and BMW all make very nice scooters.
gemsroadwarrior "Easy" is the opposite of cheap generic scooters. It would be far less BS to buy a major brand motorcycle than to do even 1/4th of the nonsense this victim has had to put up with and then to only end up with something of little to no resale value unless he finds someone dumb enough to be tricked into the same vicious cycle of masochism.
Stinky Cheese I agree. That's why I say yes to Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, BMW and Kymco scooters. All are quality built and all have excellent service support.
Stock batteries are good as long they get regular use meaning you use the bike regulary bike batteries start going bad after a month or two of no use ( why ? ) some not all ! can be SLOW .. charged back to life a fast charge is NOT ..good or if u can start bike and go for 1hour and a halfe ride the bike might recharge it similar to slow charge , if not take it to a autozone ( or what u have ) and ask it they charge batteries for free and they will slow charge it .. and ask if they know to slow charge .. if they scratch ? There head go somewhere else cause if u batt still has life u don’t want some idiot to fry it ..had that happen at a store with 3 guys ?? What’s there name 🤔 so ask ... $50 is a lot for a new battery..
@@greatcesarsghost My experience is mixed using the battery that Chinese scooters come with. I'm a daily rider, I've had the factory batteries die on me after 2-3 months.I generally get a better battery from the start. Have found 150cc scoots to Outlast 50cc engine wise.
when they assemble the scooters they have starting stations where they put oil and gear oil and a Gas I V .. set up connected to carb gives a few oz’s of gas to start They have little alligator clips that are hooked to a kinda low voltage charger gives the bike enough batterie voltage to start boom bike starts for a few minutes pass inspection suck back oil . Burn the little gas . Done pack it up batteries are in a package box with manual nuts bolts .. when bike gets here
What company bought it they are not going to buy a slow charger that takes 6 hours to properly charge battery NO ! put it together. Ad gas . Oil . Tire pressure bike is 80 percent assembled as for battery .. they start it with car battery charger put it on ready start zap they just fried the battery cells . Put bike out sell it yeah it’s charged the wrong way but dealer will deal with that later since Chinese scooters have 30 day warranty if your lucky .. takes to long to properly charge battery than to assemble bike if they bought 4 bikes they want 3 assembled before end of day . . Sell sell !!! so it’s not the battery it’s how it’s prepd right from the start ..
All the scooters and bikes in general requires manteinance , chines a little more, first think you want to do is an oil change and replace all the gas lines and filter, also replace the drive belt with a gate prolink belt, all the retainers and rubbers, as you said, as well, they are inxpensive and easy to replace, the bike for under $1000 is a steal
hello, I have had this bike over two years. i live in Fl.and ride every day. Rideing in rain no problem,pdi wire connectors prob. The bolt on swing arm has problem because all the weight of exhaust is there. After i lock tight bolt it broke bracket. i put a steel bar from bolt hole to rear shock,ran a bolt through bar and swing arm. prob solved,suggest you do same. Enjoy
Switch from the normal motor oils to AMSOIL synthetic 4 stoke motor oil as soon as you can once the valves seat on the engine. It will increase your mileage from 83 to 94 miles per gallon, and boost your top speed from about 32mph to about 40mph. The engine will last much longer with the AMSOIL as well besides the top speed pickup.
My scooter was running fine like 50 miles an hour I bring it to a shop and had them replaced the ignition and had a tune-up done on the way home is always staying in the red and making popping noises bogging down then all a sudden it wasn't going nowhere the wheel wasn't turning turning then it would turn in just a little what do you think it is Harley
I’ll agree with you 100% about these bikes needing frequent maintenance. These bikes are manual mode. No computer. Basic operating systems (air/fuel/spark). If you have them running right, they’re fun and economical. I disagree with using power tools for small bolts. The bolts on the CVT are 10MM. They only get nudged down. As for the oil, there is no filter. Only a screen. Just spray it with brake cleaner if it’s loaded with crap. Lastly, carry your helmet with you. I had a scooter with a built in helmet lock. Worked great until someone stole it and I had to ride home with no helmet. People passing me “look at this jackass! He’s gonna kill himself!”😂. Since that day, I carry the helmet with me. It’s not heavy at all. 😂😂
My bike is fuel injected and in my opinion is a way better option. I once had a chinese carbureted scooter and one day after riding it when it was new just randomly started gushing fuel out if the carburetor from the air box. It was a fun little scooter but I smfound myself always busy wulith fixing something on it. For double the price you can get a higher quality bike from a dealer.
I don’t know I guess u got a lemon I bought a big ruckus / rowdy off the street and I never had any big expense I’ve had two valve adjustments in the last 3 years and the bike feels like a rebuild every time replaced rear tire , rear brakes both master cylinders eBay less than $15 you got to remember most Chinese bike part are interchangeable if u just do a little research and some ingenuity . U make sound it’s going to drag u down and drain your life savings if you spend a Saturday morning cleans it u check and adjust what needs to be done and the bike will last I bought mine in 2016 and it’s a 2013 .. after miner adjustments its faster than other stocks ones . They ask what I did to it nothing ! So not all Chinese bikes have or need the things u say my bike is 80 0/0 stock ..so they are not as bad as people say ..
David Jones well if you have $4,500 to drop on a better scooter then that’s fine. The Chinese scooters allow you to kinda pay as you go. $1200 up front for the scooter and then another $1200 for add-on’s that you can buy one piece at a time. And when all is said and done, you still save about 50% over a Honda. This guy included the cost of a lot of items that he shouldn’t have. Tools, riding gear, that cost applies to any bike and shouldn’t have been a factor here. He has also paid others to make repairs and that always jacks up the costs.
34mph up a hill, damn man I know you said you weigh 250 but that's a drastic difference from 50, you should get a 300cc and you'll have no issues doing 100mph up a hill.
These are great if you love to tinker. If you don’t have any automotive experience or need reliability I would recommend buying a taiwanese scooter from a dealership or a more expensive japanese yamaha or honda bike.
Thanks for a great video. I bought a new TaoTao 50 recently. Does anyone know if any of these issues with the bikes are improved now in 2018? Or should I still change out the fuel lines, valve stems, etc. even in 2018?
godfatherNYC Chinese scooters in general don't have the best fuel lines, I have a 170cc Chinese scooter and the fuel lines do perish but it's not such a big thing and it's cheap to replace
I think a lot of these scooters get bad reps due to improper maintenance (at least with running issues).. Ive been in the car audio world for a long time and there are brands sold at flea markets that get bad reps. Why? because the people who shop there dont know what they are doing.. When you buy a honda the shop will recommend the maintenance ... After extensive research on these chinese scooters I found out you are suppose to chain the oil and gear box oil after about 100 miles.. You are also suppose to have your valves adjusted after a couple of hundred.. And lets face it.. On average a person that buys a cheap scooter just isn't going to pay for maintenance ... Not to say they are all good.. It looks like the peace sports are decent
I also found something else I wanted to add... You are not suppose to even run the engine with the oil that comes with it .. It is for shipping purposes only... Think about how few people know that.. How many people likely run 500 miles on that oil.. :o).. Im sure these scooters have their faults.. Go through the bolts with locktite and upgrade a few of the electrical components and the carb.. And I bet you it lasts you 50 percent as long as a honda for 1/4 of the cost .. .Im not saying these are super scooters by any means. Just saying.. I know locally (indiana) I can get the evos/lancers and paladins for about 800 assembled
BUT that you have to do this stuff so soon, is a sign of their low quality as well as all the other signs it is basically self destructing within the first year. In other words the yearly total cost of ownership on these is obscenely high with the only real saving graces being lower insurance and fuel except with fuel, who really wants to drive far enough at 40MPH to realize much fuel savings compared to a small/efficient motorcycle. For example many 250cc to 500cc bikes now get 50MPG and possibly more if people were gentler on the throttle. Heck, even the average $2000 car can go more than 3K miles before you have to put another $1500 into it and even then, only if it's transmission or you're overpaying for someone else to do work you could yourself.
Stinky Cheese 250cc bikes cost between 3500 and 7000 dollars.. A bit different than 600 dollars.. Plus motorcycles have high upkeep cost as well .. Plus no license required... Plus forbid something major does go wrong with the motorcycle, most replacement parts cost more than a whole new scooter. .Plus the labor is much more... Then the last issue... Most 250cc to 500cc motorcycles put out more emissions than your average car.. Oh yeah forgot.. You are much more likely to die on a motorcycle due to the speed differential ... As far as that being signs of their destruction in the first year... Most automobiles require massive break in period actions in the first 15000k. Also all engines have a break in period.. Im not saying you are completely invalid with your points.. Just completely exaggerated and not completely thought through
adam as A USED 250cc bike can be had for $1000 to $2500 depending on condition, age, and market area. Unless it is very old or poorly maintained by the prior owner, it will last longer before repairs are needed. Motorcycles don't necessarily have high upkeep, on the contrary they cost a lot less than that scooter which is why I mentioned them. You do need a license for anything that goes over roughly 25 to 35 MPH in "most" if not all states. Most replacement parts do not cost more than a whole new scooter. I have no idea where you are getting this false information. You write about a 1982 Honda Sabre... It is now over 30 years old! Used head at $500 would mean yearly cost averaged out was only $17 per year. Pick the right used motorcycle and it is MUCH less expensive than this scooter.
Wow that's a lot of money for that bike I probably could use even more upgrades and stuff like that to make it there really reliable and enjoyable for that kind of money I get a Honda Super Cub